Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Each installment of Ben's Tours takes you on a visit to a special place. This time join me at the unassuming, open air memorial at the Judenrampe of Auschwitz. The site marks the spot where almost half a million prisoners, mostly Jews, were unloaded from transport trains between the spring of 1942 and mid-May 1944 (at which point it was replaced by the infamous railway siding and gate leading directly into Birkenau). From this spot, prisoners were either sent to the gas chambers of Auschwitz Birkenau (about 70 - 75%), or were processed into Auschwitz I or Auschwitz Birkenau as slave labourers.
About 1 km from Auschwitz Birkenau and a little over 2 km from Auschwitz I, it has never officially been part of the State Museum, and wasn't officially commemorated until 2005. Lying between Oswiecim's modern day train tracks and a residential street, the quiet memorial is made up of two original cattle cars, a couple of plaques, and four informational panels. Not much, but an awful lot at the same time...
Each installment of Ben's Tours takes you on a visit to a special place. This time join me at the unassuming, open air memorial at the Judenrampe of Auschwitz. The site marks the spot where almost half a million prisoners, mostly Jews, were unloaded from transport trains between the spring of 1942 and mid-May 1944 (at which point it was replaced by the infamous railway siding and gate leading directly into Birkenau). From this spot, prisoners were either sent to the gas chambers of Auschwitz Birkenau (about 70 - 75%), or were processed into Auschwitz I or Auschwitz Birkenau as slave labourers.
About 1 km from Auschwitz Birkenau and a little over 2 km from Auschwitz I, it has never officially been part of the State Museum, and wasn't officially commemorated until 2005. Lying between Oswiecim's modern day train tracks and a residential street, the quiet memorial is made up of two original cattle cars, a couple of plaques, and four informational panels. Not much, but an awful lot at the same time...
